Work Session

June 25, 2022

To join the fun, contact the railroad at: Work-Session @ RedRiverAndGulf.net (no spaces)

Volunteer Railroaders:
1. Joseph S.
2. Joseph S. Jr
3. Angela A.
4. Andrew A.
5. Dwayne S.
6. Mike B.
7. Mike M.
8. Tucker B

Accomplishments
1. Bush hogged majority of the field (site of the log pond)
2. Repaired electrical wires on the sprayer car
3. Installed heat-ducting material to inside of M4 engine cover
4. Inspected and made repair plans for an out-of-service rail flat trailer
5. Sprayed herbicide on and around main loop track, buildings, and railroad equipment
6. Cut back brush further away from track, buildings, and railroad equipment

Volunteer Opportunity

Anyone who can help spray with a hand sprayer or with a backpack sprayer would be a major help. It's a simple and easy task that makes a big difference in ground maintenance. Help with spraying tracks, around buildings, near equipment, and many other places is most welcome. If you know of someone who could help, please contact us today. The museum has the herbicide and the spraying equipment. All we need is you!

Friday

After the Executive Committee meeting, Tucker began preparations for the volunteer weekend by getting more diesel for the tractor, setting up the bush hog mower on the tractor, topping off fuel in M2 for spraying, getting herbicide solutions mixed up, locating and testing a hand-pump sprayer, returning M4 to the Engine House for tomorrow’s work, and moving an out of service flat car trailer into the Engine House for inspection. Mike Brown used the chain hoist to flip over the flat trailer for a close inspection of the undercarriage. Mike also continued work preparing the Heisler boiler for a hydro test. To end the day, Tucker used M2 to give the main loop track a spraying of herbicide. The hot, dry, and no wind conditions were perfect for effective herbicide spraying. The spraying from the session earlier in June yielded outstanding results and a majority of the vegetation was still dormant.

Saturday

With a very hot day ahead, the volunteers focused on tasks that didn’t involve major construction or heavy lifting. We took frequent breaks in the shade and we pushed hydration all day long. Joseph S. led the charge on the museum tractor to bush hog mow as much as possible of the large field where the old log pond resided. By Sunday morning, a majority of the field had been mowed. It was hot and hard work and we thank Joseph mightily for a job well done. Joe Jr. gave M4, M2, and the M8 a sweep to keep the equipment clean. Dwayne, Angela, and Andrew started early, with Dwayne repairing the electrical connections on the sprayer car. Some of the wires had worn down and Dwayne got the lines in tip-top shape and tested to make sure the sprayer keeps on going. Andrew, Angela, and Tucker installed heat-ducting material inside the M4 engine cover procured by Doug. This is to duct the heat to the auxiliary fans Mike M. and Glen installed to duct heat to the undercarriage (and out of the cabin).

As Mike and Mike continued work preparing the Heisler boiler for a hydro test, the crew of Angela, Andrew, Dwayne, and Tucker cut down the large saplings and bushes on the storage track and sprayed the track area and the stored equipment area with herbicide. From here, the crew sprayed the vegetation around the Planer Mill power house. Next, the crew cut the saplings and sprayed the small vegetation around locomotive 400, the Clyde Skidder, around the switches on the Engine House lead tracks, the cleared area next to the car knocker shed lead track, around the Insley crane, and behind the Engine House. Behind the Engine House, the crew continued to push back the vegetation away from the building and from equipment. Vines and saplings were cut down and the small vegetation given a heavy spraying. Working in the shade in this area was quite welcome as midday approached.

Joe brought a trailer of tools, including a grill and hamburgers. Not only did he get the field cleared, he grilled delicious hamburgers for the crew. Thank you!

After lunch, Mike, Mike, Joe, and Tucker inspected the out of service flat trailer. Mike M. partially disassembled the bearing that was noisy, finding the bearings were rusty. The bent axle was identified and the bend location noted. The car is repairable and will be a goal of our next volunteer session. There’s a few more maintenance items to hit as well, including replacing missing grease fittings on some of the bearing housings.

In the afternoon, the crew continued cutting and spraying vegetation near McGiffert 1230 behind the Machine Shop, around the parts warehouse, and near the car knocker shed. Areas that were cut were given a heavy herbicide spray. As we continue to clear vegetation in areas, we’ll be following up regularly with herbicide spraying to keep the area under control. Anyone who can help spray with a hand sprayer or with a backpack sprayer would be a major help. It's a simple and easy task that makes a big difference in ground maintenance.

At the end of the day, the handcar was pulled out for a spin. Andrew, Dwayne, and Joe Jr. rode the car down to the washout on the Sandersville line. A fun ending for a variety day.

 

Sunday

Sunday morning, Joe finished the field portion he started on with the bush hog, finishing when the heat of the day got cranked up again.

-Tucker "Who Dat" Baker
  RR&G Road Master